Tech Talk 2/6

160,000 attendees. 2 million square feet of exhibit space. 7,000 journalists. 4,000 exhibitors. 20,000 new product announcements. This can be only one event…

The Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas last month. An event that displays to the tech world every awesome, weird, absurd, expensive, why-do-we-need-this product by both startups and large companies.

Trends at this year’s CES:

Everything is “smart.” Similar to last year, a recurring trend is to make everyday products “smart” Internet-enabled devices.

4K and Ultra HD TVs are becoming available and are more affordable for the general public.

Self-driving cars may soon be available as well.

Bendable TVs and smartphones are still a thing.

Smartwatches are THE thing.

If I had a wish list:

The Polaroid Zip is a photo printer that connects to your iOS or Android device via Bluetooth. Using a free app, you can take photos you shot with your phone, edit them with the app, and create small, 2×3-inch prints.

Ampl Labs’ SmartBackpack has swappable backup batteries that can charge anything from a smartphone to a laptop on the go.

Panasonic’s Smart Mirror helps you visualize a new look for yourself with different makeup, facial hair, and more. Check out this video.

Mercedes-Benz unveiled its F 015 Luxury in Motion, an autonomous vehicle that is basically “an ultra-luxe lounge on wheels.” Check out these photos.

The Carbon Flyer is a personal drone with an onboard video camera. Love the idea? Support their Indiegogo campaign.

Pet tech:

The Petcube is essentially a baby monitor and toy for your pet. The device has a built-in camera, laser, and a speaker for engaging your pets in various ways while you’re away.

Similar to the Petcube, the Scout 5000 is a GPS collar that streams video back to your phone or tablet, as well letting you confuse your pet with voice commands.

Is it Throwback Thursday already? Sony is bringing the walkman back with its ZX2 Walkman. Read more about it here.

The products may seem innovative, but what are the security risks? This article in The New York Times explains the threat of the Internet of Things to both security and privacy.